I like this clear explanation given by Zasep Tulku about politics and Dharma, and how one should not mix them up.
Especially, I like the clear explanation of what is meant by "politics", and also the reminder of a proper and sincere motivation for a real Dharma practice.
Don't mix up dharma with politics.
I would like you to not mix dharma and politics together.
We need to know the difference between policy and politics.
We have policy like in a family where there are ways of doing things and rules etc.
Similarly in the dharma centres there are guidelines and policy but that's not politics.
Politics is using the dharma in order to gain something like power or make yourself better than others, or to indicate that you are more competent than others or as way of putting others down, or as an excuse to treat other people badly, or as a way of discriminating against other people, or as a way of causing others to feel isolated.
Politics is about ways of gaining power; prestige or positions of influence that serve your own agenda; to gain worldly things.
Forgetting about the real meaning of dharma and even forgetting that you might be harming others or not even wanting to see it and keep pushing your own agenda, that's what I call dharma politics.
Basically politics is used to discriminate against others to make yourself look good.
I would like my students not to use politics to position themselves in a dharma group by obtaining influence and forgetting about the real purpose of dharma practice.
I would like you to remember what dharma really means.
Being part of a dharma group is an ideal place to really practice compassion and love and wanting to help, and putting others first.
Please remember wherever you are, either in a dharma group or in your work place , dharma practice is being helpful to all sentient beings and not attempting to use them for your gain or for your purposes.
